A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust gas recirculation device, a traveling motor, and a control device. The exhaust gas recirculation device includes a communication pipe that allows an exhaust pipe and an intake pipe of the engine to communicate with each other and a valve that is provided in the communication pipe. The control device is configured to perform foreign matter removal control for opening and closing the valve when foreign matter caught in the valve is detected and the hybrid vehicle stops.

Methods and systems that monitor an actuator state of wear. One or more observations are made as to one or more extremum positions of the actuator to determine a reference extremum position when the actuator is not worn. As the actuator becomes worn, the difference between a present extremum position and the reference is used to monitor actuator wear. Actuator wear may be observed to identify or predict a need for maintenance or replacement, and/or may be used in determining health impacts of control system solutions.

Methods and systems that monitor an actuator state of wear. One or more observations are made as to one or more extremum positions of the actuator to determine a reference extremum position when the actuator is not worn. As the actuator becomes worn, the difference between a present extremum position and the reference is used to monitor actuator wear. Actuator wear may be observed to identify or predict a need for maintenance or replacement, and/or may be used in determining health impacts of control system solutions.

Methods of improving SCR performance in heavy duty vehicles may use multiple interdependent control techniques to increase engine exhaust temperatures in a fuel efficient manner. One method combines cylinder deactivation and mechanical loading of an engine by an electrical generator used to input energy into an exhaust stream to manipulate the exhaust temperature through the combined effect of modified air-to-fuel ratio and supplemental energy input. In particular, cylinder deactivation may be used to modify the engine air flowrate and the electric generator may be used to apply mechanical load on the engine to manipulate the engine fuel flow rate to control the engine air-to-fuel ratio and thereby increase exhaust temperatures. The exhaust temperatures may be further increased by using the electrical generator to add the energy generated as input energy to the exhaust stream.

Methods of improving SCR performance in heavy duty vehicles may use multiple interdependent control techniques to increase engine exhaust temperatures in a fuel efficient manner. One method combines cylinder deactivation and mechanical loading of an engine by an electrical generator used to input energy into an exhaust stream to manipulate the exhaust temperature through the combined effect of modified air-to-fuel ratio and supplemental energy input. In particular, cylinder deactivation may be used to modify the engine air flowrate and the electric generator may be used to apply mechanical load on the engine to manipulate the engine fuel flow rate to control the engine air-to-fuel ratio and thereby increase exhaust temperatures. The exhaust temperatures may be further increased by using the electrical generator to add the energy generated as input energy to the exhaust stream.

An exhaust gas heating device includes a housing and a heating element arranged in the housing for heating exhaust gases flowing through the housing. The heating element comprises a first and a second connecting region. A power source for supplying electricity to the heating element, comprises a first connecting element, connected to the first connecting region of the heating element, and intended to supply the heating element (18) with electricity, and a second connecting element. The electrical power source comprises a third connecting element that comprises an electrical connector, electrically connecting the second connecting element to the second connecting region of the heating element.

An exhaust gas heating device includes a housing and a heating element arranged in the housing for heating exhaust gases flowing through the housing. The heating element comprises a first and a second connecting region. A power source for supplying electricity to the heating element, comprises a first connecting element, connected to the first connecting region of the heating element, and intended to supply the heating element (18) with electricity, and a second connecting element. The electrical power source comprises a third connecting element that comprises an electrical connector, electrically connecting the second connecting element to the second connecting region of the heating element.

Methods of improving SCR performance in heavy duty vehicles may use multiple interdependent control techniques to increase engine exhaust temperatures in a fuel efficient manner. One method combines cylinder deactivation and mechanical loading of an engine by an electrical generator used to input energy into an exhaust stream to manipulate the exhaust temperature through the combined effect of modified air-to-fuel ratio and supplemental energy input. In particular, cylinder deactivation may be used to modify the engine air flowrate and the electric generator may be used to apply mechanical load on the engine to manipulate the engine fuel flow rate to control the engine air-to-fuel ratio and thereby increase exhaust temperatures. The exhaust temperatures may be further increased by using the electrical generator to add the energy generated as input energy to the exhaust stream.

Methods of improving SCR performance in heavy duty vehicles may use multiple interdependent control techniques to increase engine exhaust temperatures in a fuel efficient manner. One method combines cylinder deactivation and mechanical loading of an engine by an electrical generator used to input energy into an exhaust stream to manipulate the exhaust temperature through the combined effect of modified air-to-fuel ratio and supplemental energy input. In particular, cylinder deactivation may be used to modify the engine air flowrate and the electric generator may be used to apply mechanical load on the engine to manipulate the engine fuel flow rate to control the engine air-to-fuel ratio and thereby increase exhaust temperatures. The exhaust temperatures may be further increased by using the electrical generator to add the energy generated as input energy to the exhaust stream.

Use of an additive selected from nitrate compounds, peroxide compounds, nitrite compounds and polyether compounds, and mixtures thereof in a diesel fuel composition for reducing the build-up of deposits in an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system of a compression ignition internal combustion engine.